Making a formal promise or commitment; giving something as security for a loan or agreement. In fraternity context, the process of seeking membership.
From Old French 'plege', meaning a surety or guarantee. Related to 'plight' in the sense of giving one's word. The word originally referred to something given as security, evolving to mean the act of making such commitments.
The word 'pledge' is closely related to 'plight' as in 'plight one's troth' (promise faithfulness) - both involve binding oneself to future action. This connection shows how promises were historically understood as forms of symbolic bondage or security deposit.
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